Wrench



Aug 23, 1932- A. K. ERSLAND 1,872,710

WRENCH Filed April 28, 1930 IN V EN TOR. /N05 A. Eej/mp 35 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES Amos K. EnsLAND, or MANHATTAN BEAcn, CALIFORNIA j' WRENCH vApplication*filed April 28,

My invention relates to wrenches of the quick adjustment typewhich have a pivoted yand traveling outer jaw to render the wrench applicable to pipes as well as nuts of diiferent sizes. f y

It is a purposeof my invention to provid a wrench of the. above described character which has a pawl for locking the shank of the outer jaw in any longitudinal position of adjustment and in such manner that Vthe outer jaw is free to occupy any divergent'position with respect to the inner jaw without rendering the pawl ineffective to lock the shank, the pawl including a plurality of intimately spaced teeth all of which remain in mesh with the teeth of `a rack on the shank irrespective of the divergent position of the outer jaw, and by which teeth a fine adjustment of the outer jaw can bel eifected.

It isalso a purpose of my invention to provide a latching device manually operable to cause the pawl and the rack of the outer jaw shank to engage and disengage each other to lock and'release the outer jaw, and when Y the two are disengaged permitting quick longitudinal adjustment Vof the shank to attain any desired adjustment of the outer jaw with respect to the inner jaw.

I will describe only one form of wrench embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims. In the accompanying drawing: t; Fig. l is a view showing in ongitudinal section one form of wrench embodying my invention and wherein the outer jaw shank is in released position with respect to the pawl to allow the quick adjustment of the outer aw.- v

J Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing i0 the outer jaw shank engaged and locked by the pawl. A n i Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the permissible transverse movement of the outer jaw shank when locked by the pawl to allow 'the outer jaw to occupy a divergent position with respect to the inner aw.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing the wrench in rearelevation and with the latching device in the same position as illustrated in Fig. 1. f

1930..A seriai No. 448,045. Y

Fig. 5 isa transverse sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. e Figs. 6 and 7`aredetail perspective views of thespring and latch member,respectively, ofthe wrench shownjin the preceding views. V In carrying out my invention,I provide a handle I-I including an elongated shank y15, and a; body at one end of the shank having parallel portions-16 connected by aback portion 17, the parallelportions exceeding in Vwidth that of the shank to provide a mounting for and accommodate otherparts ofthe wrench. Y

Bymeansrofrivets 18 and '19the Ashank 2() for an inner jaw 21, is lXedly secured be- 65 tween the parallel portions 16, it being understood that the aw 2l is formed integral with the vshank 20. .The inner edge of the shank 2() Lis shaped to provide divergent surfaces 2()a and 2.0b to forma pocket in which a pawl 70 Pis adapted to be received, the. surface 2O,b terminating short of the jaw 21 to provide an intervening surface 20c against which the upper end of the pawl P is adapted to abut. It is importantto note that this surface 20.is offsetwith respect tothe adjacent end of the jaw 21 in order that when the upper end Vof the pawlzengagessuch surface it will be dis'- posed substantially flush with the end of the jaw. This is for the purpose of permitting so, unrestrained longitudinal movement of the outer jaw shank when the pawl is ine'ective toy lock the outer jaw shank in a longitudinal .position of adjustment. Y

The outer jaw, indicated at 22, is provided with a shank 23'formed on one longitudinal surfacek with a rack 24 which is adapted to engage teeth 25 of the pawl P' to secure the shank23 in a longitudinal position of adjustment and tothereby lock the jaw 22 in a fixed 90 position of adjustment ywith respect to the inner jaw 21. The inner end of ,the shank -23 is provided with a detent26 which is adapted to abut the inner endof thepawl P to confine theshank Vagainst complete wthdrawal from the handle. Y

Y The pawl 'P is fulcrumed to moveabout a pin 27 which' Vextends through the parallel portions 16 of the handle, and that face of the pawl confronting the inner edge o'fthe'shank 100 20 is shaped to correspond to the shape of such shank edge. This is for the purpose of permitting the necessary rocking movement of the pawl to allow the shank 23 to move transversely and to the end of permitting the outer jaw v22 to occupy any required divergent position with respect to the inner jaw 21. The teeth 25 extend only from the lower end of the pawl to a point opposite that of the fulcrum pin 27, the remainder of the pawl face being smooth, and engageable by the rack when the upper end of the pawl abuts the surface 20c and the outer jaw is rocked to the left as viewed in Figure 1, fromv which it will be clear that upon further rocking movements of the jaw 'to the left', the j aw will pivot about the upper end ot 'the pawl and tree the rack from the pawl teeth, thus permitting longitudinal movement of the outer aw.

By the provision of a latching device, the shank 23 can be urged transversely to the left, Vas when viewed in Fig. 2, causing the rack 24 to' engage the pawl teeth 25, and yet allow the shank to swing transversely to the lett and about the fulcrum pin 27 as a center to permit the outer jaw to occupy a divergent position with respect tothe inner jaw. However, this latching device is capable of being manipulated manually to occupy either of two extreme positions in which it is active and passive, respectively, to engage and disengage the shank 23 so that the latter will be locked or released, respectively, by the pawl P. This latching device comprisesy a member 29 disposed Within a slot 30vin the back portion 17 of the wrench handle, and to the inner side of which a bowed spring 2 8 is secured by means of rivets 31 and in such manner that the spring projects beyond the opposite ends of the body 29, as illustrated in Fig. 2. At its upper end the body 29 is formed with an offset wedge shaped key 32 provided at its free extremity with a detent 33, while at its lower end the body is provided with an oiiset extension 34 having yat its free 'extremity a detent 35.V The key 32 and the extension 34 are reversely disposed with respect to the body 29 so that when the body is imposition within the slot 30, the key 32 is positioned for movement between lche shank 23 and the back portion 17 of the handle, while the extension 34 is positioned to move within the slot 30 as well as to the outer side of the portion 17. The spring 28 is Secured to the body 29 so as to have a portion 28a disposed substantially in spaced parallelism with the extension "34 in order that it may coact with the latter to confine the latch body 29 against complete displacement from the slot 30.

The outer surface of the body 29 is dished as indicated at 29a to provide a seat for the finger by which the body can be moved upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1 vto that shown in Fig. 2. The `body is also provided with l a pair ofk wings 36 which are this Vposition of the key, the detent.- 33 engages the upper end walliof the slot 30 to conine' the vkey ment from the slot. it the lower end of the body 29, the spring portion 23a engages the inner `side-of the handle portion 17 to contine the body 29 againstv displacement troni the slot. 1n this position ot the latch body, the key 32 being Withdrawn from between the shank and the handle, vpermits the spring 28 to occupy a normal position in which it is still effective to urge the shank 23 to cause the-rack 24to engage thev pawl teeth 25 butI to lesser degree so that by gripping the outer 22 and moving it to the right, as when viewed in Fig. 1, the rack can be moved Jfree oit the pawl. As a consequence, the shanky 23 is free to be moved longitudinally to eiect a' quick adjustment of the outer jaw 22. `With thelat'ch member in the position Vshown in Fig. 2, the key 32 is projected between the shank 23 and the handle portion 17 thereby transversely shifting the shank 23 to the left to cause the rack 24 to more firmly engage vthe pawl teeth 25. 1n. this position of the body 29 the detent 35 engages the lower endwall of the slot 3() to confine the extension 3i against movement inwardly through the siot 30. y

Thus with the shank 23 shifted so that the rack 2e engages the pawl'teeth 25, the shank is locked against longitudinal movement, and vconsequently the jaw 22' issecured vin a fixed position 'of adjustment with 1"espect vto the inner jaw 21. However, vthe jaw 22 is not restrained I against a movement to occupy divergent position with respect to the jaw 21 for the shank 23 can move transversely about the ulcrum pin 27 as a center rocking on a projection 32u of the key 32 upon which the shank bears. Such a movement ot the against complete displaceshank 23 does vnot cause the rack 24 to dis- .l

engage the pawl teeth 25, because of the location of the'bearingprojection 32?, in respect to the fulcrum 27. T hus the outer jaw 22 is capable of movement to occupy any divergent position without 'disturbing its position ot adjustment with respect to the jaw21. i

` As will be clear from a consideration ot tween the jaws. In order that the shank 23 as well as the spring 28 may occupy a maXimum angular` position as illustrated in Fig. 3, the upper end of the handle portion 17 is beveled as indicated at 37. In practice, the key 32 when in the position shown in Fig. 1 permits adjustment of the jaw 22 to receive and grip a pipe or other piece of work between the jaws1 and once proper adjustment has been attained, the key is moved to the position shown in Fig. 2 thereby locking the jaw in the position to which it has been adjusted. To rotate the pipe, the handle H is oscillated in the usual manner, the shank 23 swinging about the pin 27 as a center when the handle is moved in one direction in order to permit the jaw 22 to assume a divergent position with respect to the jaw 21. However, when the handle is moved in the opposite direction the ,spring 28 functions to return the jaw 22 to a parallel position with respect to the jaw 21 so that the pipe is momentarily released to allow such movement of the handle, and following which, the handle may be moved in the other direction to cause the jaw 22 to again occupy divergent position in which the pipe is wedged between the jaws and the turning thereof effected as a consequence.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of wrench embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be ymade therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A wrench comprising a handle, an inner jaw Xed on the handle, an outer jaw having a shank movable longitudinally to eect adjustment of the outer jaw with respect to the inner jaw and transversely to cause the outer jaw to occupy a divergent position with respect to the inner jaw, a rack on said shank, a pawl fulcrumed in the handle, a member movable on the handle to occupy either of two extreme positions, a spring secured to the member and engaging said shank for yieldably urging the latter transversely to cause the outer jaw to occupy a parallel position with respect to the inner jaw, and a key carried by the member so that in one extreme position of the latter it is interposed between the shank and the handle to move the shank to a position in which the rack engages the pawl, and in the other extreme position of the member to be withdrawn from between the shank and handle to Vallow the rack to be moved out of engagement with the pawl.

2. A wrench as embodied in claim 1 wherein the member is provided with an extension and the spring is secured to the member so as to coact with the extension in providing a means for confining lthe member against transverse displacement from the handle.

3. A wrench as embodied in claim 1 wherein the member is dished to provide a seat for the linger for moving the member from one extreme position, and with wings adapted to be gripped for moving the member to the other eXtreme position.

il. A wrench comprising a handle, an inner jaw iXed to the handle, an outer jaw having a shank movable longitudinally and transversely in the lhandle and provided with a rack, a pawl fulcrumed in the handle, means in the handle engaging the shank and acting to yieldingly urge the rack into engagement with the pawl, .and means manually operable to move the shank transversely Vand latch its rack in engagement with the pawl.

5. A wrench comprising a handle, an inner jaw flXed to the handle, an outer jaw having a shank movable longitudinally and transversely in the handle and providedy with a rack, a pawl fulcrumed in the handle, yieldable means engaging the shank for normally acting to move the rack into engagement with the pawl, a detent on the shank positioned to engage the pawl for preventing complete withdrawal of the shank from the handle, and manually operable means mounted on the handle and movable to latch the rack in engagement with the pawl.

6. A wrench comprising a handle having an inner jaw, an outer jaw having a shank provided with a rack and mounted in the handle Jfor movement longitudinally and transversely of the latter, a pawl mounted on the handle, means engaging the shank to 100 urge the rack into engagement with the pawl, and locking means co-acting with the last means and handle to lock the rack in engagement with the pawl.

7. A wrench comprising a handle having 105 an inner jaw, an outer jaw having a shank provided with a rack and mounted in the handle for movement longitudinally and transversely of the latter, a pawl ulcrumed in the handle, means for urging the shank to 110 engage its rack with the pawl, and means for locking the outer jaw against disengagement of its rack from the pawl, while rendering the outer jaw free to rockwith the pawl about the axis of the latter.

AMOS K. ERSLAND. 

